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@melissalyttle took this photo of the tennis player Claire Liu (@cliu2000) at home with her 2-year-old German shepherd, Buddy. @cliu2000, 17, recently became the first American since 1992 to win the @wimbledon girls’ championship. But she’s pushing back against the typical narrative of a rising teenage #tennis player. Now, at a crucial point in her development — choosing between going to college and turning pro — she has kept college in her sights. “My family, we value education, and I think I’d get a lot from college,” she said. Claire’s story differs in many ways from her peers’. Unlike a majority of top juniors, she’s never attended a tennis academy. She grew up in Thousand Oaks, California, and spent the last 8 years training at the @usta site, 51 miles away. Her parents, both Chinese immigrants, are chemists. “I never felt pressure to follow everyone else,” she said. “My coaches and parents were really supportive in letting me make my own decisions, and not pressuring anything.” Visit the link in our profile to read more. #🎾#🐶